 For the variety of VBSPCA humane education programs presented in 49 public and private schools in Virginia Beach, animals always accompany staff and trained volunteers and are an integral part of the teaching team. Our two most popular programs are Compassion Classroom and Listening Ears. Compassion Classroom is a character education program involving monthly lessons in compassion, respect, and responsibility based on the schools’ monthly character values and Standards of Learning such as those pertaining to human impact. The students visit with a different kind of animal every month. Our Listening Ears program for reluctant readers uses guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs for weekly visits to build oral reading skills. We have many more schools on standby on our waiting list for both programs.
Virginia Beach City Public School’s policy on class pets can be found on their website under “instructional materials”. The Superintendent may permit animals at school with the principal's permission, providing that the animals enhance the educational program. There are thorough and appropriate guidelines regarding supervision and care of animals on the website.
 I have seen many class pets in my travels around the classrooms, and I’ve yet to find one that appeared neglected or stressed. From fish to “reading rabbits”, students introduce their classroom pets with pride. One such student, “Melody”, was the ad hoc caretaker of her teacher’s dwarf rabbits. This class also participated in the Compassion Classroom program. Further, Melody’s teacher sponsored her tuition to our spring break camp at the VBSPCA shelter. Melody grew to be comfortable around all kinds of animals and often instructed other children in the proper handling and care of them. Ironically, her father was in prison on dog fighting charges. Think of how differently this child’s life could have been shaped had class pets and a compassionate mentor like her teacher had not come into her life.
In a mostly urban setting such as Virginia Beach, despite our access to the beach and many wonderful State parks and national refuges, many children are out of touch with nature. “I’ve never touched a guinea pig before!” is a phrase I often hear. Usually, these students have not touched any animal before. Sadly, this often causes them to be fearful of our furry friends. It is difficult to imagine these children growing up to be advocates for animals or the environment when they are so disconnected in their youth.
When you bring other life forms into a classroom, whether they are animals, plants, or even little mealworms for studying life cycle, it adds a different dimension to the learning environment. Students spend a great deal of time at school, and living things make it a warm and inviting place to be. Robert Coles, the well known child psychiatrist, in his interviews with children found that most students want a home-like environment in a classroom. Since approximately 63% of American homes have pets, it is a natural extension to bring them into schools to create a more congenial environment. Good choices for school or class pets are guinea pigs, rats, gerbils, and goldfish. Exotic or wild animals, reptiles, and birds are usually not good options.
In addition to important affects on a child’s attitude and behavior, use of animals in education provides another forum to showcase adoptable shelter animals, especially the less adoptable ones. This provides a platform to talk to the children about why some animals are more difficult to adopt, opening their eyes and causing them to be more empathetic. We have had several adoption successes for our education animals including a 7-year-old moose of a yellow lab named Max to a socialized feral kitten named Mau Mau.
If I can open children’s eyes to having an appreciation for all living creatures, including those people do not normally favor, such as large breed dogs, older animals, or rodents, I have done my job. I don’t feel I can accomplish this without an animal as part of my instructional team. My day is made when a student pets a rat and exclaims, “A rat’s tail is not icky at all!” Now if we can just convince adults that’s true!
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SAVE THE DATE!
Virginia Beach SPCA Presents
Yappy Hour 2010
“Canine Film Festival”
April 17, 2010
Cavalier Beach Club
Virginia Beach, VA
www.VBSPCA.com Originally from Vermont, Kathy Shambo is a former Virginia Beach and Norfolk school teacher whose passion for animals and wildlife conservation brought her to the Virginia Beach SPCA. Initially, Kathy spent her weekends and school breaks volunteering and working part-time at the shelter. In 2007, Kathy was hired as the Humane Education Director. Most of the time, Kathy is out visiting schools with one of her “critters” to teach children humane lessons of compassion, tolerance, respect and empathy. She is also a NC licensed wildlife rehabilitator. When Kathy’s in the office, she is usually found in the company of her canine companions, Pony and McKenna.
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